Cap Miné Lighthouse

The Cap Miné Lighthouse is located about three kilometres north of Ramena, a village 18 kilometres north of Diego Suarez. The lighthouse is accessible via the military base ORANGEA (5,000 Ariary entrance fee per person) along an unpaved road.

In 1895 a simple metal tower was constructed on a square concrete base. Later this tower was reconstructed to a brick-built 14 metres high octagonal tower. A Sautter-Harle mechanism ensures the rotation of the lens. The focal plane is 47 metres. At an interval of 15 seconds three white flashes stream up to 14 metres. In 2009 the lighthouse was completely renovated and is now powered by solar panels.

The caretaker Bemitambo lives with his family in one of the rooms in the adjacent building. Bemitambo is very passionate about his job and likes to explain interested visitors the technique as well as takes them up the lighthouse. A spiral staircase leads up to the top where it is possible to circulate the lighthouse on a small view platform. There is a magnificent 360° view onto the passage of the Diego Suarez Bay, Emerald Sea, the far Indian Ocean and the hinterlands of northern Madagascar.

Nearby the lighthouse are some canons and other remains of defence constructions as well as the beautiful Baie des Dunes and Baie des Pigeons.

Another, much smaller lighthouse can be found northwest of Cap Miné, located just offshore ORANGEA beach. This lighthouse has a focal plane of 11 metres and streams continous red light. The octagonal concrete tower is 11 metres high.